Hydrogenation of Aromatic Compounds

Hydrogenation of Aromatic Compounds: Selectivity

Polycyclic aromatic compounds can be partially hydrogenated. Under suitable conditions, naphthalene can be reduced to tetraline (tetrahydronaphthalene).

Fig.1

Synthesis of tetralin

The aromatic stabilisation of naphthalene is signicantly less than double the resonance energy of benzene. Therefore, the first ring is reduced much easier, and an intact benzene ring remains to give tetralin.